The Grand Duelist

"I'm sorry but our Premiere VIP Rooms with the 99% Assimilation Rate is only available for customers who are going to commit to a stay of at least three months. If you want to avail of a room with daily rates, I'm sorry but we are currently out of available rooms for that rate."

The receptionist respectfully said.

Abyssal Flame Master or formally known as Jason in the outside world stood in front of the front desk of the most prestigious Virtual Reality Cafe within the City.

The reason why it was called the most prestigious was due to the fact that it had dozens of Gaming Capsules with Assimilation Rates of at least 96 percent.

Assimilation Rate affected how you feel within the world of Victory.

Virtual Headsets that were commonly used by the average player who couldn't afford Gaming Capsules only had an Assimilation Rate of 50%.

Playing Victory using such a headset felt more like an augmented reality game.

The graphics wouldn't really be affected, apart from your gameplay.

But why would gameplay be affected by Assimilation Rate?

Well, it was because Assimilation Rate also meant the percentage of the game's replication of your physical body.

In other words, if the Assimilation Rate of your Virtual Headset was only at 50%.

It meant that your reaction speed, etc within the world of Victory was exactly half of your true abilities in the outside world.

This was the reason why higher Assimilation Rates Virtual Headsets and Gaming Capsules were often sought out by gamers. Unfortunately, for games with lower financial capability, they had to settle for less and make do with a Virtual Headset that only has a fifty-percent Assimilation Rate or below.

Jason stared at the receptionist and asked, "How much do I have to pay if I want to stay in a Premiere VIP Room for three months, and what are the amenities?"

The receptionist who was about to entertain another guest frowned when she heard Jason's question. She couldn't help but inwardly mock him, 'Is it really necessary to pretend that you have money? If you do not have any money and can't afford the room, why bother asking about its price? I really hate customers like this guy.'

But on the outside, she maintained a gentle smile as she patiently explained.

"Every long-term stay within our establishment are discounted, so you would really save a lot if you do that..."

"If you want to stay within a Premiere VIP Room for three months. You just need to pay us nine-hundred thousand pesos upfront. Availing a Premiere VIP Room gives you free use of everything within the establishment and you will also have access to a world-class breakfast buffet for free."

The receptionist stared at Jason and a flash of ridicule could be seen on her face. She even articulated the words, nine-hundred thousand pesos as clear as possible indicating that she was thinking that Jason couldn't possibly afford such a steep price for a room in only three months.

The other customer who looked to be in his twenties glanced at Jason and his curiosity turned into ridicule when he saw his outfit.

Jason wore dirty clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed for a week.

It was even a mystery for the receptionist and him as to how Jason was granted entry in such a prestigious establishment. 

Jason revealed a languid smile. Of course, he understood what they were thinking. Although he felt annoyed that the receptionist who was supposed to treat customers as kings would inwardly mock him. It was true that he really looked like an unsophisticated country bumpkin. 

He didn't try to argue with the receptionist and the customer as he said.

"Do you accept mobile payments?"

The receptionist was astonished by what she heard that she couldn't help but reply with a question.

"Pardon?"

Jason frowned, "I said, do you accept mobile payments? Gcash? Can I pay with it?"

The receptionist finally awakened from her trance and she snorted: "If sir wants to pay through the use of Gcash, we have our QR code right there. Just scan it and send the exact amount to us as payment."

Jason nodded his head and started fiddling with his phone that looked to be several years old.

The customer stared at Jason with derision and even the receptionist furtively glanced at him. Clearly waiting for his look of disappointment when his attempt at payment failed.

A few seconds later, Jason raised his head and replied, "I sent it, please confirm."

"You sent it?"

The receptionist raised an eyebrow but her doubt turned into astonishment when she saw her computer screen.

She was thoroughly shocked to the point that she fell into silence.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the payment? I clearly sent it already, I have the reference number here."

Jason furrowed his eyebrows. He felt that the receptionist was wasting his time.

The customer realized from the expression of the receptionist that Jason indeed had nine-hundred thousand pesos to pay upfront. Nine-hundred thousand pesos wasn't really that much, but you'd be hard-pressed to find people that could pay as much as that upfront. 

Is this guy a nouveau riche that purposely dressed like that to ridicule us?

The customer's lips repeatedly twitched as he slowly stepped backwards and disappeared.

From now on, he had decided that he would never mock others just because of how they looked.

He had learned his lesson.

The receptionist was also the same.

She hung her head low in shame as she respectfully replied, "Yes, I have received the payment. I'm sorry, uh... I will guide you to your room." 

Jason nodded his head.

It didn't really matter if the receptionist guided him to his room or not, but since it was free service.

Why would he refuse something free?

In the end, the receptionist even gave him some rare snacks from Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Jason sat on his Gaming Capsule, he couldn't help but praise the Virtual Reality Cafe.

"Damn the service here is really good. Now, I have no regrets paying that much for a room. In fact, I don't think that I can even call this place a room. It feels more like a house." 

The Premiere VIP Room didn't disappoint. It had everything that you could think of from a house.

It was also huge, unlike the living quarters of those cheap Virtual Reality Cafe somewhere out there on the streets.

This place was really prestigious, if not for the fact that there was a Gaming Capsule here...

Jason would've thought that he was on vacation.

A light smile escaped on Jason's lips as he sat down on his Gaming Capsule and entered the world of Victory.

...

"Benefactor?" Jeric mumbled in astonishment.

But he quickly regained his wits as he kneeled on one knee and kept his silence.

He hung his head low and looked repentant of what he just did.

Thankfully, Joseph didn't even spare him a glance as he turned to face Kayn and his brothers.

"Kayn! What a coincidence! To think that I would meet you here!"

Joseph approached Kayn with a smile on his face.

Kayn lightly chuckled, "I also really didn't expect that we would meet here, benefactor."

Joseph patted his shoulder, "I told you already to stop with that benefactor, all right? We're buddies so just call me by my name, Joseph. I don't really mind." He then swept his gaze at Kayn's friends and said, "Same goes for you all."

They nodded in agreement. From the look on their faces, it was clear that they were glad that Joseph treated them like friends instead of subordinates.

Even though Joseph saved their lives and gave them the chance to retaliate against that noble and even changed the direction of their lives.

They still had their own pride.

It was beneath them to be a servant under someone, even though that person was their benefactor.

But that didn't mean that they didn't recognize goodwill. In fact, it was even their creed to pay the kindness of someone, ten times more than what they had received.

This was the reason why they felt conflicted about serving Joseph.

If they did serve Joseph and he treated them as true servants, they would undoubtedly revolt.

But if they did that then it meant that they violated their own creed of paying goodwill with goodwill. They didn't want to do that so they were stuck in a rock and a hard place.

Such a train of thoughts became a knot in their hearts that was finally resolved today when Joseph told them that they were friends.

"Then, can you explain to me everything that is going on now? Kayn?" Joseph turned to look at Kayn in doubt.

He vaguely remembered that Kayn said that he would never become a bandit once again after his revenge.

But what was going on?

Why does he look like he was a member of this bandit group that tried to intimidate him and Alice?

Kayn scratched his cheek and an awkward look appeared on his face. But since he knew that he could never escape the fate of explaining everything to Joseph.

He steeled his resolve and started talking about the reason why he had joined Jeric's bandit group and he even told Joseph about their plans which thoroughly astonished Jeric.

"What are you..." Jeric stretched his hand and looked like he wanted to stop Kayn from talking.

But when he realized that Joseph seemed to be unaffected of what Kayn was talking about.

He heaved a sigh of relief and didn't bother about it anymore.

Joseph's relaxed demeanor alone told Jeric that he really wasn't that interested in the riches of the Kingdom.

But little did he knew that this was just a facade.

Of course, Joseph was interested in the treasures of the Kingdom of Nether!

Why would he not be?

It would be strange if he wasn't interested.

But he didn't show his interest on his face since he still wasn't so sure about the attitude of this so-called Jeric that Kayn introduced to him as his friend from a long time ago.

Kayn completed his explanation and he finally awakened from his excitement of meeting his benefactor.

Turning to look at the young woman standing beside Joseph with a cold look on her face.

Kayn paused for a moment before a light smile escaped his lips. He smiled at her and said, "Nice to meet you, I'm Kayn. I owe Joseph my life and since it looks like you are his friend, we are also friends."

Alice turned to look at Kayn and she frowned when she saw his friendly expression.

Alice was someone who experienced a lot of things and one of the scenarios that she encountered that she absolutely hated was meeting fake people that wore smiles on their faces but had no problems stabbing you on the back.

Alice wasn't so sure about what kind of a person Kayn was.

Joseph noticed her hesitation.

He patted her shoulder and said, "Alice, you don't have to worry about his character. He is the one who helped me save you from the hands of the Kingdom. Without him, I don't even think that I will be able to leave Reinhardt back then."

"Really?" Alice turned to look at Joseph in astonishment, but when she realized how rude she was for exclaiming. She covered her mouth with her left hand and stared apologetically at Kayn, "I'm really sorry for doubting you, I didn't know that you were my benefactor."

Kayn shook his head, "That is not a problem. I can't really blame you, Ma'am Alice..."

"You were asleep when we met."

"I was asleep when we met? Does that mean that you saw..." Alice was startled by what she heard, but she stopped herself from continuing her sentence when she realized her blunder.

Joseph who stood beside her took advantage of this opportunity to say, "Yes, he saw you drooling when you were sleeping."

Alice's figure visibly trembled.

Kayn almost coughed a mouthful of blood as he stared at Joseph in disbelief.

Why did his benefactor kick him down a cliff?

He was so shocked that he was rendered speechless by what he heard. 

But before he could even say anything. Joseph interrupted their train of thoughts with a cough.

"Ahem... Uh... How about we go back to your base for now? I don't think that it's inappropriate for us to just stand here."

Jeric was astounded when he heard Joseph mention their base.

How did he knew that we have a base?

Alice saw the change in his expression and she couldn't help but comment, "He knows about your base since it is common sense that bandit groups have bases. He doesn't know where exactly is your base but the fact stands that every bandit group has bases and in this case, you aren't an exception."

Jeric felt that what she said made sense and he couldn't help but slap himself on the face.

How did I become so stupid?

Of course, something like having a base is common sense for bandit groups!

Jeric was disheartened.

He deeply sighed before he walked forwards and led the way for everyone.

Upon arrival at the underground base. Jeric finally gathered all members of his bandit group.

They all stood in a wide space underground, when Jeric returned along with Alice, Joseph, and Kayn's group members.

They straightened their backs and made sure that they were on their best attitude.

Particularly, when they saw Kayn and his friends.

Everyone here knew about Kayn for he was a friend of the founder of this bandit group.

But they were astonished when they found a beautiful golden-haired young woman standing in front of them.

"Right now we will begin the briefing about our mission. Three hours later, we depart."

"THREE HOURS?!"

The bandits were astonished by what they heard. They thought that they still had at least a week of preparation, yet why were they going there as soon as possible?

That didn't make sense since the Royal Palace isn't a place that could easily be invaded.

Due diligence must be done and they must take their time in preparing.

Jeric understood the anxiousness of the bandits so he promptly explained, "I know that all of you are confused as to why we are planning on departing three hours later, but just let me explain..."

"Right now, we have this madame that is not only beautiful, but she is also the disciple of that Legendary Blacksmith, Krid! With her on our side, there should be no problems!"

"The disciple of the Legendary Blacksmith, Krid?! So that was why she looked so familiar, goddamned it." The bandits stared at each other, enlightenment dawned upon them when they heard their founder's words.

Finally, they found the answer as to why they felt a sense of deja vu when staring at Alice.

It wasn't so strange as to why they were familiar with her.

After all, they were one of those that tried on capturing her but ultimately failed.

But right now that the Capture Order was retracted, there was no use for them to try and capture her anymore.

Realizing her identity, they were finally convinced. 

Three hours later, after some small talks and planning...

The Order of the History's Number One Bandit Group, along with Alice and Joseph. 

Finally departed to Reinhardt.